Dry dog ​​food: classes, selection criteria and feeding rules

Dry food has long been one of the basic nutritional options for dogs of any age. Prepared food greatly simplifies the maintenance of the pet, allowing the owners to provide him with a full diet with all the vitamins and minerals. The granulated product of industrial production may have different shape and size of particles. The quality level of different class of feeds differs, their composition changes. Manufacturers even take into account the intensity of physical activity that the pet is used to endure.

The article will talk about how to choose food for active and other dogs, whether you need to pay attention to specialized and therapeutic nutrition, if the animal is healthy. Each of these points deserves the most detailed consideration and study. After all, the state of health of the dog, the quality of its coat, the correct growth and development of the puppy depend on the diet.

For a start, consider what the dry food for dogs consists of. As a rule, it is made from a variety of ingredients to ensure the correct balance of fat, protein, carbohydrate component in the dog's diet. But the main thing should be meat - chicken, lamb, veal and even fish (salmon). It is this element in the composition should be in the first place - without any reservations and assumptions. Not the flour from the bones, but only the meat.

Specific designations "with a lamb", "with chicken" on the package do not guarantee the predominance of the main component. It is worth avoiding the foggy mention of “with fish”, “with meat” without deciphering the composition - the less information on the package, the higher the likelihood that the manufacturer has something to keep silent about. Another important point: Chicken protein is quite a strong allergen, it is better to choose a food based on turkey, beef to feed a pet.

The cereals in the dog's diet act as an energy source - they are rich in carbohydrates, but they do not digest too well, leaving the body almost unchanged.. In cheap feed, the most commonly used is corn, soy or wheat. Producers of more expensive products often completely refuse from the cereal component or use barley, brown brown rice.

Much attention should be paid to the presence and volume of by-products in dog food. As in the natural nutrition, their number should be minimal. Moreover, the entrails should act as an additive - the liver, kidneys, heart, and not claws, bones and necks, which also often fall into this category. Another important component is vegetables, fruits and other sources of fiber, including seaweed. Their presence is an indicator of high quality products.

Among the useful ingredients in dry dog ​​food can be identified L-carnitine, chondroitin, glucosamine, natural egg, choline, ferrous sulfate, beta-carotene. Vitamin premix in the composition of the food helps to avoid imbalance in the diet. As well as among the desirable ingredients, anise, fenugreek, sesame seeds, vegetable oils, and flax flour are commonly mentioned.

What should not be part of:

1. dyes - nondescript brown or gray lumps are much more beneficial for the animal than brightly colored in green or orange tint;
2. dangerous fats - they can cause cancer;
3. cereal by-products - production wastes, the value of which is highly questionable;
4. BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin - hazardous substances banned in many countries of the world.

Arguments of supporters of dry food are understandable. Meals from a common host table for a dog are much more harmful. In addition, many pets are recommended a strict diet that requires the exclusion of many products. With the help of ready-made ration to keep it quite easily. The advantages of this food option include a number of factors.

1. A wide selection of products of different classes. Ready-made feeds often take into account the pet's age category, the level of its physical activity, the intensity of the loads received, and even the breed affiliation. In addition, the price range is also quite wide, allowing each owner to resolve the issue of feeding the animal, without going beyond the planned budget.
2. Significant time savings. To feed an animal, it is enough to pour new granules. Power does not deteriorate, suitable for use in automatic dispensers. If the owner does not stay at home for a long time or travels with a dog, a ready-made diet will be the best choice.
3. Maintain dental health. The use of dry dog ​​food allows you to provide an abrasive effect on the tooth enamel, clean the deposits, preventing their reappearance.
4. Confidence in the quality of products. You do not need to look for suitable meat, to make sure that it is fresh and that the dog is not allergic. Ready food can be chosen to taste even the most capricious pet, and if not to save, the quality of its ingredients will be at its best.
5. No need for additional vitamin and mineral supplements. High-quality feed, indeed, contain them in sufficient quantities. With the budget - everything is not as attractive, their composition is much poorer, and the purchase of supplements to the basic diet is usually necessary, as with natural food.
6. Availability. If the feed is over, in most cases it can be found in the nearest supermarket. With the purchase of food on trips and travel problems also arise.

No cost and no cons. The disadvantages of dry food are many. But most of them are associated with the mistakes of the owner in the choice of diet for the dog. Veterinarians warn of necessity individual selection of food. But you should not be afraid of the monotony of the diet - the dog will get everything you need to avoid the risk of obesity, stomach and intestinal disorders.

Among the shortcomings that should be taken into account is the need for more water. If it is not possible to replenish the bowl during the day, it is better to install an auto-drinker. The high cost of high-quality feed also regularly becomes a reason for criticism. But when comparing costs, a natural balanced diet costs no less.

All types of ready-made dog food in the form of dry granules can be divided into classes that differ greatly among themselves. The content of vitamins and minerals, additives to improve digestion is typical only for expensive products. Cheap feeds from the mass market segment at best contain by-products and a significant proportion of cereals as filler. Serious harm such a diet will not bring. But you should not expect much benefit from it either.

The division into classes manufacturers introduced by chance. It helps to select products of the right quality, quickly separating the appropriate category of feed on the counter. In addition, when buying ready-made food of little-known brands, this factor allows us to understand the level of the manufacturer.

Let us examine what classes of dog dry food exist.

The most budget solution, the price of which per kilogram leaves no chance that inside will be at least the cheapest meat. In the economy class feed, at best, offal, as well as bone meal, shredded fats and tendons can be found. The varietal origin of the meat component also usually remains a mystery - at best, the “bird” will be mentioned, but without specification, the chicken or the turkey. Even with this approach The percentage of animal protein in a cheap granular product is about 20-25%.

Among the obvious shortcomings of the economy class fodder it can be noted that such low-useful additives as soybean, corn grits and its production waste are included in their composition. High salt content, flavors, flavor enhancers, dyes - all this also does not add to the usefulness of popular products of cheap brands.

Premium ready-made dog food is not an ideal product in terms of price and quality, but an option close to it. They cost more than analogues of economy class, but it is quite acceptable for the majority of owners of pedigreed animals. The composition must contain vegetables, cereals, natural meat. Such food is not suitable for puppies that continue to actively grow and develop. Otherwise, everything is very individual - you need to track the qualitative composition, select only trustworthy products.

Premium class is still the same mass market, but with higher quality control. As part of about 30% of meat, over 40% is occupied by cereals, most often rice. The presence of by-products of category II is allowed.

Super premium food is an expensive professional food for purebred dogs and pets. He necessarily has a division into subclasses: for allergy sufferers, puppies, active and elderly animals, giants and small breeds. In addition, manufacturers always use high-quality natural meat, include in the composition of trace elements and vitamins. The diet takes into account the energy needs of a particular dog, given accurate recommendations for calculating the amount of food per day.

As part of super-premium feed, meat by-products belonging to category I are allowed. And also here you can find a boiled egg, fiber-rich root vegetables, rice. All ingredients are certified for animals as well as for human nutrition, recognized as safe for health.

In the super-premium segment, therapeutic and prophylactic feeds are produced. The first category is intended for use in a certain period of the life of the animal - as a supporting and restoring food. Preventive products are applied on an ongoing basis, designed to prevent health problems specific to a particular breed or group of animals.

Dietary super-premium foods are intended for dogs suffering from diabetes, obesity, and metabolic disorders. Each line of such power is optimized in its composition. The content is balanced, the calorie content is reduced, components are added for better digestion of food.

This type of dry dog ​​food is grain-based and grain-free (dietary) formulations, in the manufacture of which only the highest quality products are used. The basis is always at least 65-80% high-quality beef, veal, lamb, turkey. It also includes rice and other digestive safe cereals, organic vegetables and berries, and herbal preparations.

In fact, holistic-class food appeared due to the owners' desire to bring the ready-made diet closer to the quality of natural food. Strict control, careful selection of raw materials - all this makes it possible to create a full menu for dogs of different breeds and ages. Here you can find offers for:

• lactating and pregnant dogs;
• allergic animals;
• sterilized and neutered pets;
• dogs with increased energy consumption needs;
• puppies and juniors.

Biologically appropriate grainless food is called “biologically appropriate” due to the fact that the dog’s diet is maximally close to the diet of its wild counterparts. It consists of mainly high-quality meat (up to 70%), herbaceous inclusions, spices, vegetables and fruits. It is not allowed to use grain components, artificial preservatives, dyes.

To make a single brand rating is quite difficult. It is necessary to consider only manufacturers producing high-quality products - grainless and regular feed not lower than the super-premium class. They are fully consistent with high standards, do not pose a danger to animals. Production quality is guaranteed mainly in the EU countries, the USA, Canada.

The highest quality products among dog food are represented mainly by brands from Canada. It is here that today produce the highest quality varieties of dry food, create an innovative line of rations. Control over the level of safety of ingredients, requirements and standards are the most stringent.

The Canadian brand, known throughout the world, was one of the first to launch a holistic-class feed. As part of only high-quality natural meat, the proportion of grain components is minimized, but fiber is present. There are completely grainless feed options in the line. In any products there are herbs, fruits, vegetables, necessary for high-quality digestion of food.

The Acana brand in the holistic lineup offers food with a rather narrow specialization - by age, breed, size of the animal. The share of natural meat in the composition is at least 70%. Vegetable organics are carefully selected, checked for quality. As part of a full-fledged complex of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins.

One of the most popular Canadian brands in Russia is Go! Natural makes holistic products tailored to the individual needs of the animal. For shine of wool and physical activity, for everyday protection against diseases, for large and small animals. All of them do not contain grain crops, they contain not less than 70% of meat.

A completely natural balanced diet complements the inclusion of fiber sources - vegetables, fruits, herbs. In the composition there are no dyes and chemical additives, but there is a useful vitamin-mineral complex. The medical line contains products divided into subclasses, taking into account the age of the animal, the presence of diseases. The high cost is truly compensated by the high quality of the product.

Products under the brand Now Fresh is also manufactured by a company from Canada. Available seedless and classic versions of the diet. Protein is represented exclusively by high quality meat products. In the Now Fresh series, additional components of plant origin are used - fruits and herbs that are beneficial for the digestive tract. The vitamin and mineral component is also fully represented, which allows the dog to provide complete nutrition.

Super premium feeds are significantly inferior to holists in their composition. Grain aggregates occupy a significant share of the product, but fiber, vitamins and minerals are present in the diet. The following is a ranking of the most popular brands.

The leader of the rating is the products of the Czech brand, which has earned high consumer confidence. The feeds of this brand are high-calorie, they are distinguished by economical consumption, natural composition. The proteins here are only meat, which allows you to provide good nutrition to dogs with different needs - from fighting and giant breeds to small active pets. In the composition there are no sublimated components, there are necessary vitamins and mineral supplements.

Products of the Canadian brand 1st Choice have a balanced composition, in which the volume of meat products is at least 35%. Proteins are presented mainly in the form of salmon, beef fillet. A variety of diets makes it possible to choose food for allergic dogs, elderly animals, owners of sensitive gastrointestinal tract. Products undergo strict quality control. But its cost is quite high, and you can buy food far from everywhere.

Well known to many breeders brand from the concern Procter & Gamble. It includes at least 30% of meat ingredients, cereals, vegetables as a source of fiber, chicken eggs. There is a division by age, size of the animal.

When choosing a dog food it is worth considering that the food for a puppy is not suitable for adult animals. The exception is females during lactation, the feed intended for them is also suitable for feeding the young offspring. If the product has a division into additional categories by age, size, level of physical activity, it is definitely worth considering. Individual selection of food - the best solution for animals of any age.

Another important selection criterion is the size of the dog. The diameter of the pellets in the feed for medium breeds and small ornamental animals is significantly different from what is found in a pack of food for dogs of gigantic growth. In this case, chewing too large or small dry pieces of food to an animal will simply be uncomfortable.

Features of the state of health - another important factor. For active pets at the peak of the form suitable feed with high energy potential. For dogs with low mobility it is better to choose a less calorie diet. Specialized nutrition is indicated for pets with liver and kidney diseases, disorders of the stomach and intestines. Separate food is required for sterilized, castrated animals, allergic dogs.

When choosing a feed it is necessary to check its expiration date. The product must have sufficient stock before the time allotted for its use expires. This factor is especially important for large packages.

To feed well digested, you need to properly feed the dogs dry granular products, necessarily following simple rules.

1. Choosing a single product or brand, you should stick to this diet. The producers of holistic and super premium class have a fairly wide range of feed, which allows us not to abandon the usual diet when changing age categories.
2. To buy pellets by weight, you can choose only large stores where the product does not stagnate for more than a week. Otherwise, the treat will lose all appeal to the animal.
3. When equipping a zone for feeding, one should take care of a sufficiently capacious and convenient watering.Dry food causes great thirst. Water should be abundant, change it in a bowl daily. It is better to choose drinking bottled product rather than filtered tap liquid.
4. When feeding on dry food, a clear timetable is very important. Let the dog get used to eat strictly on the clock twice a day, if we are talking about an adult animal. The volumes of servings are calculated based on the manufacturer's recommendations and caloric content. Eaten food should be removed.
5. Storage of dry food requires hermetic packaging and a minimum moisture level. If these requirements are violated, mold, fungus, and other dangerous microorganisms may appear in the bag. If the dog does not eat too much, it is better to take food in small packages.

The opinion of veterinarians and independent animal nutrition experts on dry dog ​​food is quite obvious. They recommend to use only the products of super-premium and holistic. Such a diet is capable of replacing the natural nutrition without loss for the dog. If there is only enough money for classic economy and premium products, it’s better to immediately consider the options additional getting animals vitamins, minerals, fiber.

There are a number of breeds that require a lifelong strict diet. For their owners, in the opinion of veterinarians, a ready-made diet can be a real salvation. Instead of many hours of cooking allowed food, you can simply give the dog a ready meal. But in the selection of food consultation veterinarian will be required. Among the most relevant options, according to doctors, brands Canidae, Piccolo, Artemis.

Experts in the selection of feed advise not to be afraid of experiments. Many non-mass brands are cheaper than the advertised products, and they can be brought to order.

How to choose a dry feed, see the following video.